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The EMG SLV was custom designed for famed session guitarist and founding member of Toto, Steve Lukather. The SLV is similar to the SAV pickup, but has increased coil windings for a meatier tone and pole pieces, not a bar, hidden under the solid cap for a more uniform look. Steve had played a specially over-wound SA pickup for years, so we used the original preamp from the SA and added flat Alnico 5 pole pieces to give the pickup a more tradition string-to-string sound. The result is a noiseless single coil guitar pickup with a classic EMG sound and pole pieces closer to the individual strings for more output and a punchier attack. Swap this pickup in with ease using EMG's solderless wiring system.

SLV

Customer Reviews

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Great Bridge pickup - balances with SAs at the neck and middle

oldjohn /Reviewed 12/22/2018

I have tried a few different combinations trying to have all three pickups in a strat setup balance. Only SLV worked for me. With the SLV at the bridge and SAs in the mid and neck positions, I get a very similar output in all pickup selections and no need to compromise tone settings on my amp to accommodate the different pickups. I prefer this set up to any humbucker size pickup in the bridge position. The SLV is also "full" enough to be played stand alone, while most other single coil size pickups really need to be combined with the mid pickup to be full enough and not shrill.

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The ultimate allrounder

Craiguitar /Reviewed 6/7/2018

My Original Music Man Luke 1 which had the older SA57's (forerunner to the SLV) really became a benchmark sound for me as far as single coils go.
Some years later when I got a Luke 2 model, it came with the updated SLV single coils. I immediately noticed a more vintage vibe to the sound which was very pleasing. Plenty of power, low noise as you'd expect from EMG's, and most of all, the versatility to deal with any musical situation. All in all, the SLV really is a winner!

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"EMG SLV great bridge pickup"

David P. Makowski /Reviewed 9/19/2017

I have used EMG pickup's since the 1980's. I have used the 81/85 Humbucking combo in one of my Les Paul's and I have used the SA set with the SPC Presence Control in one of my Strat's. The SPC was the missing ingrediant in my Strat. Once I installed the SPC Control I was able to drive the front of my JMP MKII amp very hard getting more of a humbucking powerful tone for lead work. The EMG SLV is a really great pickup for the bridge position as it's hotter than an SA. I swapped out the EMG SA in the bridge position with the EMG SLV and believe me it makes a difference in output and tone. If you have never played or used EMG pickup's I strongly suggest giving them a chance. I truly think you will be surprised and satisfied.